Aichi M6A

Infobox Aircraft
name=M6A Seiran


caption=
type=Submarine-launched dive bomber
manufacturer=Aichi Kokuki KK
designer=
first flight= 1943
introduced= 1945
retired= 1945
status=
primary user= IJN Air Service
more users=
produced= 1943-1945
number built= 28
unit cost=
variants with their own articles=The Aichi M6A "Seiran"Japanese 晴嵐, "Mountain Haze" Sei - Clear Skies, ran - Storm. Loose translation; Storm from clear skies.] was a submarine-launched attack floatplane designed for the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Design and development

It was intended to be used with the I-400, a 4500-ton submarine dubbed a "submersible aircraft carrier". Two to three of the craft would be stowed aboard in disassembled form, and launched by catapult. The twin floats could be jettisonned, and the aircraft was essentially meant to be ditched at sea upon completion of its mission.

An alternate version with landing gear instead of floats was designated M6A1-K and named "Nanzan" (南山, "Southern Mountain"). While generally described as a land-based trainer, some sources indicate that it was designed for the attack role, to be launched from the submarine and then landed. Besides the difference in landing gear, the vertical stabilizer's top portion, which was foldable on the Seiran, was removed.

Operational history

The first M6A1 was completed in November 1943, and 28 examples (including M6A1-Ks) were completed by 1945. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto made plans back in early 1942 to launch a surprise air strike on the Panama Canal using the "Seiran". The target was later changed in 1945 to the American aircraft carriers stationed at Ulithi Atoll following Yamamoto's death and reports of an impending attack on the home islands.

This mission was assigned to the 1st Submarine Flotilla, which comprised of two submarines, the I-400 and the flagship I-401, each carrying three "Seirans". The flotilla departed Japan on 23 July, 1945 and proceeded towards Ulithi. However, on 15 August, the flagship I-401 received a radio message from headquarters, informing them of Japan's surrender. They were ordered to return to the nearest port in Japan, ending the flotilla's first and only mission, and preventing the "Seiran" from ever entering combat. [Tamiya, Aichi M6A1 Seiran, 1/48 Scale Aircraft Series No.54] All six "Seirans" onboard the two submarines were catapulted into the sea with their wings and stabilizers folded to prevent capture by the Americans.

Variants

;M6A1 Prototype:Prototypes powered by Atsuta 30 or 31 1,400 hp engine and removable floats, 8 built.;M6A1 "Seiran":Special Attack Bomber, 18 built.;M6A1-K "Nanzan":Prototypes of training version, retractable wheeled landing gear, 2 built.;M6A2:Prototype, equipped with one Mitsubishi Kinsei MK8P 62 of 1,560 hp driving a three-blade constant-speed metal propeller, 1 built.

Operators

;JPN
*Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

urvivors

A single M6A1 has been preserved and resides in the Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. It is located in the Washington, DC suburb of Chantilly, VA near Dulles International Airport.

pecifications (M6A1)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

crew=2
length main= 10.63 m
length alt=34 ft 11 in
span main=12.26 m
span alt=40 ft 3 in
height main=4.58 m
height alt=15 ft 1 in
area main=27.0 m²
area alt=291 ft²
empty weight main=3,362 kg
empty weight alt=7,412 lb
loaded weight main=4,250 kg
loaded weight alt=9,370 lb
max takeoff weight main=4445 kg
max takeoff weight alt=9800 lb

engine (prop)=Aichi Atsuta Type 32 liquid-cooled, inverted V12 cylinder
type of prop=
number of props=1
power main=1,400 hp
power alt=1,000 kW

max speed main=474 km/h
max speed alt=256 knots, 295 mph
range main=2,000 km
range alt=1,100 nm, 1,200 mi
ceiling main=9,900 m
ceiling alt=32,000 ft
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=157 kg/m²
loading alt=32.2 lb/ft²
power/mass main=246 W/kg
power/mass alt=0.15 hp/lb

guns=1× 12.7 mm (.50 in) cabin-mounted Type 2 machine gun
bombs=
** 1× torpedo "or"
** 250 kg/800 kg (1,800 lb) general ordnance

ee also

aircontent

related=

similar aircraft=
* Arado Ar 231
* Mureaux-Besson MB 411
*Parnall Peto
* Watanabe E9W1
* Yokosuka E14Y

lists=
* List of bomber aircraft
* List of military aircraft of Japan

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Januszewski, Tadeusz. "Japanese Submarine Aircraft". Sandomierz, Poland/Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2002. ISBN 83-91632-72-5.
* Ogawa, Toshihiko. "Nihon Kōkūki Daizukan, 1910-1945". Tokyo, 1993.
* Mikesh, Robert C. "Aichi M6A1 Seiran, Japan's Submarine-Launched Panama Canal Bomber". Bolyston, MA: Monogram Aviation Publications, 1975. ISBN 0-914144-13-8.

External links

* [http://www.airtoaircombat.com/detail.asp?id=577 AirToAirCombat.com: Aichi M6A Seiran]